Rugby Oregon

PORTLAND, OR - Two Oregonians will be among the members of the Rugby Sevens team representing the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Hannah Lopez, who graduated from Bend's Summit High, and Melissa Fowler, who graduated from Canby, were on the Women's National Sevens team that won the 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships Sunday. Both the women's and men's teams won their competitions over the weekend, ensuring that the United States will be part of the first rugby competition in the Olympics in 92 years.

In addition, Men's National Sevens team captain, Madison Hughes, will be in Portland this weekend for a series of high school training sessions and a Rugby Oregon fundraiser. 

Over the weekend, both teams defeated a border rival in the Championship matches, with the women beating Mexico, 88-0, before the men sent Canada home with a 21-5 victory. In 11 combined matches, the U.S. combined to score 588 points against their opponents while only conceding 15 points.

Rugby Sevens will make its debut at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after a 92-year hiatus for the game of rugby. The United States won gold in Rugby Union in 1920 and 1924.  Rugby for boys and girls of all ages is played in Oregon and SW Washington. Parents and Youth interested in trying rugby can find more information about both non-contact and contact opportunities at www.rugbyoregon.com.

Nine nations were represented at the North America Caribbean Rugby Association regional qualifier in the nine-team men’s competition and eight-team women’s competition, including Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Hosted in conjunction with Triangle Sports Commission and the Town of Cary, the tournament was streamed live online on USA Rugby TV.

Men's Eagles Sevens | 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships 
1. Carlin Isles 
2. Chris Wyles 
3. Danny Barrett 
4. Garrett Bender 
5. Zack Test 
6. Andrew Durutalo 
7. Folau Niua 
8. Maka Unufe 
9. Nate Augspurger 
10. Madison Hughes (C) 
11. Perry Baker 
12. Martin Iosefo

Men's Eagles Sevens | 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships 
v Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - W (forfeit) 
v Barbados - W 54-0 
v Mexico - W 50-0 
v Jamaica - W 40-5 
Cup Semifinal v Cayman Islands - W 64-0 
Cup Final v Canada - W 21-5

Women's Eagles Sevens | 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships 
1. Joanne Fa'avesi 
2. Kelly Griffin 
3. Kate Zackary 
4. Alev Kelter 
5. Dana Meschisi 
6. Lauren Doyle 
7. Kristen Thomas 
8. Richelle Stephens 
9. Melissa Fowler 
10. Hannah Lopez 
11. Lorrie Clifford 
12. Carmen Farmer

Women's Eagles Sevens | 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships 
v. Jamaica - W 45-0 
v. Barbados - W 74-0 
v. Cayman Islands - W 50-0 
Cup QF v. Bahamas - W 59-0 
Cup SF v. Jamaica - W 53-5 
Cup Final v. Mexico - W 88-0

Founded in 1999, Rugby Oregon is a State Rugby Organization (SRO) overseeing youth and high school rugby in Oregon and SW Washington.  Rugby Oregon is a member of USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America, and Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Currently headquartered in Portland, OR, Rugby Oregon is charged with developing the youth and high school game and has over 1,500 active members. Rugby Oregon oversees four high school all star teams, youth non-contact and contact leagues, high school contact 7's and 15's leagues, a high school leadership academy, as well as specialty and summer camps.